EDUCATION

Need to adopt new technology
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 15
Emphasising the need to adopt new technology, the mass interaction and training programme for principals and mangers held at Shivalik Public School, Sector 41, here today, focused on shifting focus of education from application to production.

Speaking at the programme, the Additional Director, Department of Education, Dr M.C. Mathur, said the principals needed to manage schools with commitment, confidence and spirit of competition rather than letting the head, heart and hands be the guiding forces.

Dr Mathur added that without information technology, principals and managers would not be able to keep “their students abreast of the latest. Also, while storage and application of knowledge was passe, there was growing focus on production of knowledge.

Later, the Secretary, Central Board of Secondary Education, Mr B.R. Sharma, said the board would take into consideration the changing times and technology in matters of upgrading syllabus and organising training programmes for teachers.

Professionals from the industry of information technology also spoke to the principals on using computers as a tool instead of teaching it like any other subject in the classroom.

Among other topics touched upon at the programme, the use of digital blackboards, concept slides to make students more attentive in classrooms, animation for deeper understanding and recall abilities was highlighted.

The speakers added while adoption of such techniques enhances the interest of students in learning, visual methods. ensure better retention and contribute to easy revision.

The conference chairman and Director-Principal of Shivalik Public School, Mr D.S. Bedi, said such in-service training of principals was essential for professional growth and had begun with the first seminar of its kind organised at the school today. "We will make it a regular feature and take such programmes to the grassroot level,’’ he added.

Earlier, Mr B.R. Sharma lit the lamp to mark the inauguration of the conference. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by the former pro-Vice-Chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University, Dr Inderpal Singh.

Students captivate audience
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, December 15
It was a flight of fantasy for the audience attending the function, “We are the World”, presented by the students of Ajit Karam Singh International Public School, Mohali branch, at Tagore Theatre, Sector 18, here today.

The programme which was conducted in the form of a flight that stopped over at places included the sweet innocence of ‘Wonderland’ by play school to the colourful characters of Disney Land by kindergarten students.

As the flight proceeded to exotic places like the Island of Hawaii and Mamabo No 5, the dance items presented by the senior students matched the mood. However, it was the vigour of Punjab in the form of an energetic bhangra that took the audience into the stage of frenzy. The evening ended with a peace march.

Mr Rajan Kashyap, Principal Secretary, Department of Health and Family Welfare, was the chief guest on the occasion.

Annual function of school
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 15
Students of Vivek Nursery and Preparatory School, Sector 9, presented a cultural programme on the occasion of their 36th annual function held at Tagore Theatre, here yesterday. The DPI (Schools), Mr D.S. Saroya, was the chief guest.

The item, “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’’ a musical fairytale was well presented while the ballet “Water Dance’’ came in for tremendous applause from the audience as did the bharatnatyam performance.

A folk dance, ‘dum dum dhole’, had the audience clapping and singing along. The two plays “Scrooges’ Folly’’ and “Hysterical histrionics’’ were staged with confidence and excitement.

The idea of a creative classroom with live enactment of history by children, had the audience in roars of laughter.

A clarification
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 15
The caption of the photo published on page four of yesterday’s Chandigarh Tribune related to the annual function of Vivek Preparatory School and not Vivek High School, as was erroneously published.

COURTS

Don’t create animosity among lawyers: Bar body
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 15
In the Bar council versus Bar association case, the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association members have asked the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana not to create ‘animosity among the brother lawyers’ by issuing statements to the press.

Referring to the practice of releasing names of the advocates against whom complaints had been received by the council, the association members asserted that the trend was not only destroying the image of individual advocates, but was also degrading the profession.

Talking to Chandigarh Tribune on behalf of the members after a meeting in this regard, association president Gopal Krishan Chatrath, when contacted, said the function of the council was to protect and safeguard the interest of the advocates, not to create ‘disturbing circumstances’ for them.

Regarding the instructions recently passed by the Bar council asking the advocates not to procure work from the districts, he insisted, “Advocates enrolled with the Bar have the right to practise in the chambers as well as the courts situated anywhere in the state”.

The practice of going to the lower courts in the districts was beneficial in a way, the president claimed. He added that the system of directly procuring work was discouraging the touts from spreading their wings. As far as the publishing of names of the advocates in newspapers was concerned, the president said though the rule was applicable throughout the country, it was only in this region that the problems were being created for the advocates.

“All over the country, lawyers are appearing on television, giving information about cases,” he asserted. “And if you think of it, there is nothing wrong in it. The function of an advocate is not only to win cases for his clients, but also to educate the masses by giving them the details of the legal issues involved in the matter. The only necessary thing is that the individual advocates should not misbehave or mislead the public by blowing their own trumpet,” he added.

Amendment to PUDA rules challenged
Tribune News Service

SAS Nagar, December 15
An allottee has challenged the retrospective amendment made by the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA) to the rules relating to non-construction fee.

Taking up a writ petition filed by Mrs Sant Kaur, a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana Court, comprising Mr Justice J.L. Gupta and Mr Justice N.K. Sodhi, issued notice to PUDA for February 14, 2002.

Challenging the government notification, the petitioner pleaded that the PUDA Act did not empower it to make retrospective rules and to sub delegate its powers to make rules.